News Update
An important aspect of the Better Wetherby 'ethos' is a sense of community. In this section of the website are a few ideas of how we can all help to make a Better Wetherby:
- Links to other groups and organisations
- Local events
- Litter picking and other volunteering activities
- Green Issues
BW Chair Roger Owen with a furry friend
Better Wetherby at the Dickensian Fair 2023
Many thanks to all who braved the rain to visit the Better Wetherby display at the Dickensian Market on 10th December. Despite the miserable weather there was plenty to cheer people up with music, singing, great displays, stalls and other attractions.
All in all, a great start to the festive season. Well done to Wetherby Lions and all involved for putting on such a super event and raising funds to provide a complimentary ‘Senior Citizens’ Persons Party.’
A few topics raised by our visitors are summarised below:
Many thanks to all who braved the rain to visit the Better Wetherby display at the Dickensian Market on 10th December. Despite the miserable weather there was plenty to cheer people up with music, singing, great displays, stalls and other attractions.
All in all, a great start to the festive season. Well done to Wetherby Lions and all involved for putting on such a super event and raising funds to provide a complimentary ‘Senior Citizens’ Persons Party.’
A few topics raised by our visitors are summarised below:
- Parking Charges in Wetherby. Most of you will be aware of the Leeds City Council proposal to introduce charges on the Wilderness and Station Gardens Car Parks (see for instance BBC news article). Better Wetherby are strongly opposed these charges due to the potential impact on the town centre and would strongly urge everyone to make their views known via LCC consultation document, this will ensure that LCC understand the potential impact on the lives of people residing in or visiting Wetherby. There is also an online petition available to sign - there are paper versions of both the petition and consultation available in the Town Hall.
- Public Transport. Many visitors complained about the dire state of bus services to/from Wetherby - this is a topic that BW have long been highlighting. There is currently a consulation looking at proposed reforms to the franchising system for buses in West Yorkshire, please make your views known.
- Proposed Maltkiln Development. This topic has been highlighted in the past, and did appear to have been shelved. However a recent press article suggests that it may raise its head again. Better Wetherby will be closely following this, we believe that a 4000 home 'village' on the doorsteps of Wetherby will produce an intolerable strain on our community, and will be attempting to ensure that North Yorkshire/Harrogate liaise and consult with Wetherby and Leeds on this development - unfortunately we have seen in multiple instances that this co-operation has not happened.
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Chair of BW, Roger Owen, with Tim Ritson, President of Wetherby Lions
BW AT THE 2021 WETHERBY DICKENSIAN CHRISTMAS MARKET AND CRAFT FAYRE - LOOK OUT FOR US AGAIN AT THE 2022 EVENT!
This charity event, brilliantly organised by Wetherby Lions, took place in Wetherby town centre on Sunday, 12th December 2021. Proceeds were used to fund the Wetherby Lions complimentary ‘Elderly Persons Party.'
There were a great number of festive attractions including entertainment for all ages with music provided by the Wetherby Silver Band and other musicians and singers. Alongside various charity stalls were around 30 commercial artisan stalls.
After a rather damp start, the weather improved. Sunny and pleasantly mild conditions certainly helped in attracting hundreds of people, with many coming from far and wide. The Better Wetherby display in the colonnade of the Shambles highlighted our work and efforts to protect the local environment.
Roger Owen, Chair of BW who manned the display for several hours said
“We had a successful day with many people visiting our display and showing great interest in our efforts. From the conversations we had, I believe Better Wetherby will have gained some new supporters. My congratulations to Tim Ritson, President of Wetherby Lions, and all those involved in organising and staging such a super event.”
The 2022 Dickensian Market will take place on Sunday, 11th December. Please make a note of the date. Better Wetherby will be there with a display. More information to follow......
Wetherby Arts Festival 2022
The Festival ran from Friday, 30 September through to Sunday, 9th October. There was a super programme at a range of local venues as can be seen on the Festival website https://www.wetherbyfestival.co.uk/ (information also available on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/wetherbyfestival/ )
Better Wetherby's chairman spoke at an event ‘Wetherby – Past, Present and Future’ at 2pm on Thursday, 6th October at St. James Church Centre. This was a packed free event giving a whirlwind tour of how Wetherby has developed over the years and how it may look in the future.
The Festival provided plenty of options for music lovers with folk music, a Rock Choir, the Wetherby Silver Band, acoustic musicians Fools Gold, the Swing Commanders and classical music with the Leeds Symphony Orchestra and the outstanding Midnight Quintet performing.
There were also two great comedy nights, one in Wetherby Town Hall and one at Wetherby Rugby Club. The literary lunch at the Bridge Hotel, had two excellent speakers - the novelist and screenwriter Deborah Moggach and local author from Harrogate, Rob Cowen. One of Deborah’s books was made into the popular film, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Planning now commences for next years event which a number of Better Wetherby members will be helping to organise. If you would also like to volunteer to get involved you will be very welcome; for further information please contact, the Festival Chairman, Robert Haskins, by email [email protected] .
Platinum Jubilee 2022
Congratulations to Wetherby Town Council, Welcome to Wetherby and all involved in the organisation of the super programme of events to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s 70th anniversary as monarch in June 2022. It proved to be a memorable and enjoyable weekend. Particular thanks to Councillor Connor Mulhall of Wetherby Town Council who was in overall charge of the planning and coordination of the 4 days of the festivities.
HELP TAKE CARE OF OUR COMMUNITY – LITTER PICKING
We are fortunate to live in a lovely area with easy access to pleasant countryside and green spaces, but all too often our local environment is blighted by litter. Many local people, including contingents from BW, have taken part in litter picks organised by Wetherby Town Council resulting in the town and its green spaces looking a great deal tidier. Please look out for future organised litter picks by WTC and also by Boston Spa, Wetherby and Villages Community Green Group, who have arranged similar ‘Clean Ups’ in Boston Spa. Volunteers to help are always welcome.
There is an active local Facebook group "Wetherby Wombles" who have been co-ordinating voluntary litter picking activities in Wetherby. This group provide an outstanding example of what can be done by anybody with a couple of hours to spare. If you are able, we would encourage you to contact this group and do your bit to make a 'Better Wetherby". Many areas of Wetherby are already benefitting considerably by their efforts. The group originated within the wider "Litter Free Leeds" group, you may wish to contact them if you live outside of Wetherby.
Support local efforts to start a new ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ campaign.
Although many local people do their bit to help keep our community litter free, the discarding of litter is also a national problem. A petition has been started by the Boston Spa, Wetherby and Villages Community Green Group to raise the issue of litter with George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with the aim of initiating a “Keep Britain Tidy in the 21st Century” national campaign. You can read and sign the petition at the following link: campaign-to-stop-littering
GREEN ISSUES
For local information about green issues, the Boston Spa, Wetherby and Villages Community Green Group is very active. They have set up a number of community action groups to focus on specific areas, for example:
GREEN ISSUES
For local information about green issues, the Boston Spa, Wetherby and Villages Community Green Group is very active. They have set up a number of community action groups to focus on specific areas, for example:
- Protecting and increasing Tree Cover
- Making Cycling safer
- Reducing Waste and increasing Recycling
- Creating Wildlife Corridors
- Reducing Food Waste
- Energy efficiency
